Razor stropper



April 12, 1932.

IN VEN TOR.

i/erz flda ms.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Ap a; 12, 1932.

UNlrEo STATE-S? ALBERT e. ADAMS, or:1.os ANGELES, cAL1ronnIA AssIGnonoronnqnetr 1 EDWARD K. LINCOLN, or BLANDFORD,.MASSAQHUSETTS T Innzoa'srnorrna 1 Application filed June 17,

The present invention has relation to a device for stropping safetyrazorblades.

The general object of my. inventionis the provision of a device for usein Connection 5 with the combined canvas and leather strops generallyfound in barber shops throughout the country, and which is adaptedtohold blades of various sizes and shapes. Another object of theinvention is to clamp a razor blade in the device diagonallyrelative tothe length of the strop. A further object is to mount such bladepivotally in orderto obtain perfect contact between the blade and strop.

Another object is to provide a demountable device which, when takenapart, may fit into a relatively small space. These and'the furtherobjects and advantages of my invention are fully set forth in thefollowing description and illustrated in the appended drawings, ofwhich;

Fig. 1 is. a plan view showing the structure of my invention applied toa razor strop in position for stropping,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device with parts broken awayfor the sakeof clearness,

and Y Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating certain elements of thedevice.

The structure of my invention comprises a U-shaped frame 1, to which isattached a handle 2. In the frame is mounted a pair of shafts 3 and 4,and these shafts are connected for simultaneous rotation in oppositedirections by means of a pair of rigidly affixed gear wheels 5 and 6.

. Radialy projecting from the upper shaft 4 is a clamping member 7 inwhich a razor blade 8 is firmly held. In order to sharpen a razor bladeit is merely'required to insert a razor strop through'the frame 1, belowthe shaft '3 and, while holding the strop in the usual, well knownmanner, to draw the device back and forth over the strop, taking carethat the lower shaft 3 is caused to press againstthe strop all the time.JBy doing this the clamping member, carrying the blade to besharpened,:is automatically turned over each time the direction ofmovement is reversed.

It is well known that, inorderto obtain in turn isrigidly secured to theupper shaft i929." seriai-no. 371,347.

afinecutting edge, the razor blade should be held diagonally duringthe'stropping opera tion. In order to accomplish this the clamp? ing member'7'is shown shaped to hold the blade at an angle of about 30 relative tothestrop. It'is furthermore very important that the blade is causedtobear evenly against the strop during the stropping operation, and i thisresult I attain by mounting-the clamping member pivotally ina-stud 10,which stud 4. f The member 7 is shown mounted on a pivot 11 which isfitted to turn within the stud 10, and a pin of the latter is seated ina :short groove'of the pivot, as best s'hown in F ig.g3, for the purposeof *properlylimifl ing the oscillations of the-clamping member.

The razor blade'may be clamped in position in any suitable manner, themeans shown in the drawings comprising a lever 20, the 7 inner end 20*"of whichrides onthe inclined surface 7" of the member 7, therebypressing thejaws of the member firmly together.

As hereinbefore stated, oneof the objects of the invention is to providea device for use in connection with thelarge canvas and leather stropsused by barbers; Such strops are generally fastened together at one endand provided with some means of suspending thest'rop. The opposite endsof the strop are as a rule fitted with handles or they are fastenedtogether in one handle. The result is that, such strop ordinarily isquite thick and bulky at'each end, and thatthereforeyin order to insertthe strop, the lower shaft 3 must be spaced quite a distance away fromthe'bottom of the frame. But this is objectionable because the stropshould be held as close as possible to the shaft 3, not'only in order toturnthe clamping member over, but'also in order that the razor blade maynot incline downwardly :too much relative to the strop during thestropping operation.

"In the drawings I have shown a member 22 mounted within the frame 1andpivoted at'23: 'This member may be drawn out of the way, as indicatedin broken outline in Fig. 2,1eaving ample space toinsert even thebulkiest of barber. strops. And when the member is pushed back intoworking position it maintains the strop in the proper position. Thismember may be made of resilient metal in which case it may be made highenough to press the strop against the shaft 3. t is shown made with ahook 24 adapted to snap under the edge of the frame and thereby to lockthe mem er in position.

The structure of my invention is wide enough to accommodate largebarbers razor strops and long safety razor blades. For this reason itis, when assembled and ready for use, comparatively bulky. It isdesirable to reduce the size of the device when not in use, and this mayreadily be done by unscrewing the handle and detaching the clampingmember. For .the purpose of such detachment the pin 12 is shown mountedon a resilientfinger piece 13. When this finger piece is lifted the pinis drawn out of engagement with the pivot, 11, and the member may bewithdrawn. The parts may then be packed in a comparatively small space.Another advantage of the detachable clamping member is, that a pluralityof interchangeable clamps may be provided, each clamp being shaped tohold a particular shape of blade, if desired.

From the foregoing description it is seen that I provide means fordetachably pivoting a razor blade diagonally relative to a strop, andthat I provide means for accommodating my device to wide, thick andbulky strops such as used by barbers who contend, that it is necessaryin order to obtain a fine cutting edge, first to strop on canvas and tocomplete the stropping operation on leather. I do not, however, wish tolimit myself to the specific construction shown, but may substituteother mechanical devices which come within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a razor stropper a bifurcated frame, means pivotally hung in thefork of said frame for holding a razor blade to be sharpened, therebeing sufiicient space between said means and the fork bottom to insertbulky razor strops, lar member pivoted at one end to the edge of saidbase and capable of being swung into said space until its other endrests upon the base for the purpose of raising the strop to its correctheight.

2. In a razor stropper, a bifurcated frame, means pivotally hung in thefork of said frame for holding a razor blade to be sharpened, therebeing suificient space between said means and the fork bottom to insertbulky razor strops, and a substantially semi-circular member pivoted atone end to the edge of said base and capable of being swung into saidspace, said member being provided at its outer edge with lockingelements for engagement with the opposite edge of the base.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af fixed my signature. ALBERT G.ADAMS.

and a substantially semi-circu-.

